What can we learn from Jacob's life when answering questions about our faith? Setting the Scene Pharaoh looks at the weather-worn patriarch and asks, “How many are the years of your life?” (Genesis 47:8). Jacob’s reply (v. 9) turns a simple age question into a testimony: “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. Few and hard have been the years of my life, and they have not attained to the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” Jacob’s Response: A Model for Our Own • Recognizes life as a pilgrimage—heaven-focused, not earth-anchored • Speaks truthfully about trials—no sugar-coating • Maintains humility—doesn’t boast in achievements but admits limitations • Honors God implicitly—his very vocabulary (“pilgrimage”) confesses dependence on the Lord who guided Abraham and Isaac • Ends with blessing Pharaoh (v. 10)—turns conversation toward God’s favor Key Takeaways for Answering Faith Questions 1. Remember Identity – Like Jacob, describe yourself first in relation to God, not accomplishments (cf. Hebrews 11:13). 2. Be Honest About Life’s Hardships – Authenticity builds credibility. Paul does likewise in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28. 3. Point to God’s Faithfulness, Not Personal Strength – Genesis 32:10: “I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown Your servant”. 4. Use Everyday Questions as Doorways to Witness – A question about age became testimony; our casual conversations can do the same (Colossians 4:5-6). 5. Bless Your Questioner – Even a pagan king receives Jacob’s blessing. We, too, respond with grace (Romans 12:14). Supporting Passages • Psalm 39:12—“For I am a sojourner with You, a foreigner like all my fathers.” • Hebrews 11:21—Jacob’s faith remembered for blessing others. • 1 Peter 3:15—“Always be prepared to give a defense… yet do this with gentleness and respect.” • Genesis 35:3—Jacob’s altar reminds us to point back to God’s help. Putting It into Practice • When someone asks about your background, weave in how God has led you. • Share trials honestly, but highlight God’s sustaining grace. • Conclude conversations with a word of blessing—“May the Lord be with you.” Jacob shows that every inquiry is an invitation to testify, and every testimony is an opportunity to honor the Lord who guides our pilgrimage. |
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